Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



G. G. PORTER. STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED DEG. 30, 1905.

Patented NOV. 17, 1908.

93 53 iii? UL K 9AM) 61mm mp1 G. G. PORTER. STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

1 APPLICATION FILED 10110.30 1905. 904,225.

Patented Nbv.17,1908.

'2 SHE V i ilfl partly in=elevation of the mechanism, taken )In the line*1l of Fig. 3;" Fig. 2 a vertical -2() mechanism neat-newnthat I, GEORGE e. Powder, a' :c tizen of tlie United States; residing at isyracn'sey in the county of Onondaga and 145 State bfNe'iv "York, have invented certain ne\\"-'a-nd nsefnl' Improvements in Steering Mechanismffor Motor-Vehicles and the Like,

of nihichthe following is a specification. My*present invention pertains to improvefo'rth -a'e'ference being had to the annexed 'dra wings, wherem gureI" s a alongitudinal sectional yiew Sectiohal-view; taken on the line 22 ofFig.

1 Figi"*3*a fa 'eelevation of a portion of the i fig. 4' a sectional perspective view foi the movable braking member, together air-1 th a part of the means for moving -t'lie same; Fig: 5' a perspective view f the imkl shifffi lts attached segmental gear or 125 ra'ck andthesteering member; Fig. 6 anion;

git-ridin'al sectional view, taken on the line '6 =6.;of 3 and Fig.7 a transverse secthan view, tal en on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 6. g The main object of my invention to ro-' 3'0 .vid aysteeringmechanism, which is simp e ,in

in use: i 9 Another objectis to provide an automati brake ior-reduclng to a minimum the move 'cdnstruot ion :and highly efficient and durable sament loffithersteering post by the steering ln'eeh'n-nisnii when force is applied thereto through the wheels of-the vehicle as for instance when the wheels come irncontact with am obstruction or the- 1ike.-

40 still furtl'ier' object of the invention is to provideia construction wherein gearing may belemloved etoampart motion to the part-s. u'ther, to provide. means for keeping the'gears in proper adjustment and thus pn venting, to a greater or less extent, any.

and,

, backslash-(which would otherwise obtain ithfthe'sei'and: other objects n viewrl will now give. a de'tailed description of the whichzgearin. turn meshes with a gear. E

H I Specification of Letters Patent; t q i Application filed December 30,1905. Serial No. 293,968..

roi krn gorisraaonsn, New YORK, assienon To-BRoWN-LirE GEAR ooiaranr," i or sre onsn mwtroiui, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. i

s m' nnme IIIECHANISM For. moron-venous. 1

' v Patented Novnlj m og; i'\.

and preferably provided at, or adjacent to, the periphery of such memben;

In the illustrated embodimlent of this invention, the upper face of the'gear D bears column being likewise provided with a foot- I do not, however, limit this invention to a,

der G and the foot-piece or flange H, The movable braking member F coacts with a laterally-extending.v )ortion J, said po f tion being secured to the foot-piece- 'H-and Zwithin the shell or fixed member I by a comand 3, is directly attached to said shell 'or' not, however, restrict this inventiorrto theformed cup-sha ed and is provided zwith'i'zaf.

In the form shown the pinion is made init'will be appreciated that the two may be made separately an'd ecured together in any approved manner ;In the illustrated inbodiment of my in- P te ourriiiled insaid bushing and s suitably against -a shoulder or projection G, formed" at the lower portion of the column A, said column or standard provided with theshonlwith a fixed braking member I, and is pref face, and the member I'being providedwitli In the illustrated embodiment of my steer? i forming'a part of the casing for the gear D1 amdthe member F is maintained in position J bi'ne cover and suppofimg plate K, which as will be seen upon reference to Figs.- 1, 2

tegral with the member F though, ofcourse fixed relativelyto the braking f' piece or flange H which overlies the gear.

vii

"T5 which is slightly in excess of the diameter of sand peripheral bearing and braking sur member I by suitable tap bolts L. -I 'do" 90. described means Ibr-incasing the gear D and the brakin member-F: The braln'ng merry-" ber F 'preferablyse'rves to transmit motiiinz a to the steering member, and to thisendiis pinion M exten ing from the bottoirnof the. cup-shaped cavity of the member 'Ft andlare. ranged concentrically with reference :to the-..j gear E and itsbraking and bearing face 'vention,- an eccentric bushing; or hearing "-member 0 is mounted within an opening-- formed; in an GXtQIlSlOIi-N ofthe suooortime and a rocker-shaft or arm P is,

fixed at its outer end to a steering member Q, which, as w ll be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, is designed to be coupled to the steering gear of the vehicle.

with. a series of openings T, through which a pin U may be driven when any one of said holes stands in alinement with an opening or hole formed in the member N. By shifting. the bushing-the rack orsegmental gear R-niay be brought into proper "mesh with thepinion TM, and as the parts become Worn'this adjustment may from time to time be made in order to take up any back-lash or wear.

The hollow casing, composed of the footpiece H, the shell or brake member I and its laterally-extending portion J, and the cover plate K, comprises portions disposed at an angle to each other, one encircling the lower end of the steering-post and the gear D, and the other depending from one side of the firstmentioned portion of the casing, at one side of, and parallel with,-the longitudinal axis of the steering-post and serving to incase the braking member F, the gear E, the pinion M, and the rack R. f I

The operation of the mechanism is as fol- 40 ,lows: Power applied through handle C and I post B to the gear D will tend to rotate the nember F, and inasmuch as the power is ,vp'pliedcto the member F. substantially tanentially thereof and at a point remote from its center or 'axis, said member will turn in its bearing in the fixed member I with but little friction between the bearing surfaces. Rota- I tion of member F will, consequently, rotate the pinion M and impart motion to the rack R and a corresponding motion to the shaft P and attached steering member Q. The parts may freely move in either direction so long as the power or force is applied through the handle 'C, or to the periphery of the shell or member F. Said shell or member F, -however, acts as an automatic brake when subjected to force through the steering member Q, shaft P, rate]: R and pinion Msince the segmental gear or rack R- apphes its driv- 69 ing force to the braking member F substantially radially of said member at a point near the center thereof. Consequently a slight pressure applied to the member Q Wlll cause a sidewise movement of the member F, which movement, however, is extremely smali,

action.

thereby bringing the braking faces "of the immaterial in which direction the force is 'applied to the member Q, asthe member F will be moved to one or the other ,side of its 'center into direct contact with the braking face of the fixed member I. It is necessary,

of course, that the member F be of a diameter sufficiently large to effect the braking If the diameter of saidmember be too small, no braking action will be obtained. The proportions shown in the annexed drawings have in actual practice given 'eflicient results. It is to, be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the pro portions illustrated. It is also clear that the gear E may be formed as an integral portion of the member F, but as this falls more with in the province of the mechanician it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the same herein. It is alsoevi-dent that the member F may be provided with a braking surface independent of the gear EL In other words,

- the invention in its broad aspect is not to be limited to the details ofconstruction herein shown. It is likewise evident that the braking member may be formed independent of the transmission gear and thus serve as a braking member only, and not as a combined actuating and braking member, it being only necessary to have the power or force which is transmitted from the steering member applied to oneside of the center of the braking surface to cause it to function. It is also evident. that other suitable means may be utilized for transmitting motion to the braking member F from the steering-post, and tothe steering member Q from the pinion M fixed relativelyto, and movable with, the braking member F. Moreover, although as here illustratedthe braking member F, the gear E, the pinion M, and the rack R rotate v or rock about axes arranged at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the,

steering-post, I do. not limit my invention to such arrangements of these parts.

one'of .the\ aforesaid parts, a fixedbearing for'the friction-disk and a steering-post con- -rf-j11e ctedgto\a nd actuating the pinion and disk asaichsteering st being-arranged at an angle the axis 0 the friction-disk.

\ Iii-asteering mechanism a fixed bearing hav.mg,an annular. friction-face, a rotary ldi'sk having its periphery engaging said face,

-.pin 1on-,. a steering-post for rotating 'said n and. disk, and a lever'having a toothed j 1, v

engaged with the inion. 4. 111 comblnation with a steering-post; a

' -;f:,-steering. member; transmission means be- :tween. said ,post and member, including a, .p.ant movable about an axis and'arranged .iwith 'said axis at an angle to the steeringpos'fi=;i=-and an automatic brake actuated by orcel applied to the-steering member, wherebyithe rot tion of the steering-post by the 9 .steeringqmember is minimized, the brake, in-

icludingsiengaging surfaces concentric with -.=;E.said: of the transmission means and formed-bf greater diameter than such part, v r-v 'one of the enga g surfaces being fixed rel- -z5;-.I.ativelyto 'sai' part of the transmission.

means; I 5. I'n"combination with a steering-p0st.; a iysteering member; a 'ratk-and-pinion drive inter sed between said post and member ao xjtlie pinion being arranged withits axis at an -'-.-'1-'ang e tothe steering- 0st; and an automatic brake afiuateddirectly by force applied to said rack and pinion from the steering membe'r whereby the rotation of the steerin -post by the] steering member is minimized, the bra'keiincluding circular engaging suriaces *eo'nceritric with the pinion of the rack-andj- 'pinion d-ri've and formed of greater diameter "then -such pinion, one of the engaging sur- 4'o-[faoes being fixed relatively to said pinion.

T-"QGIIn"combination with a steering-post; a "steeringkmember; a rack-andpinion drive interposedbetwee'n said post and member, the pinion being spaced apart from, and con- -"'nected to, the'steering-post, and the steering member 'beingfree to be moved in either directionfb y fthesteerin -post; and an autofniatic brake interpose between the pinion and "the steering-post and actuated directly 5o-by fo c' e' applied to the steering member,- "Where y the" rotation of the steering-post by j-u1qae rin member is minimized. 7.: In combination with a steering-post; a

'steening infember; transmission 'means he tween said post and member, including a pinion movableaboutan axis and arranged i'iwith aid axis at an angle to the steering- ."postg and an-automatic brake actuated by force applied to the steering member, whereas by'the rotation of the steering-post'by the I steering member is minimized, the brake inilcludingafixed member h'aving an engaging v surface, and a rotary member fixed relatively t,o "the; piniomand having an engaging sur- .Qoaetirig w ithgthe first-mentioned sursaid pinion.

by said face, said engaging surfaces being concentric with the pmion and of greater diameterthan .8. In combinationwith a steeringpost; a steering member; a rack coimectedto and movable with the steering memberya. com

'bined gear and/braking member; a pinion arranged concentrically of said brakin-a member and meshing with the, rack; a fixec brakin member; and a drivingjconnect-ion lnterp sed between the steering-post and the combined gear and bra king-member; wherespeeds. p y p 9. In combination with a fixed member provided wlth an annular braking surface;

a steering member; a'rocker-shaft or arm for saidsteering member; a rack orsegmentalgear carried by the shaft, said gear standing her; a inion carried by said disk at its center an meshing with the rack; a steeringpost's 1nd member rotate at different post; and driving connections interposed between said post and disk.

10. In combination with a steering-post; a

steering member; a fixed annular braking surface; a movable annular braking ,member; an eccentric connectlou between the steering member and the movable braking ,member; and 'a driving connection between the movable braking member and the 30st,

the point of connection being remote rom the center of the braking member.

11. In combination with a steering-post; a gear carried thereby; a second gear meshing 'therewith; a pinion carried by and rotatable with said second gear; an annular braking surface carried by said second gear; a fixed braking -surface arranged to coact with said annular braking surface; a rack-meshing with the pinion; and a lever connected to the rack. v 12. In combination with. a fixed annular braking surface; a rotatable disk provided with a complemental braking surface: a pinion located centrally of said disk; a rack meshing with the pinion; a member connected to said rack and movable therewith; and means for applying power to the disk at or adjacent to its periphery.

13. In combination with a steering-post: a steering member: arack carried by and movable with said steering member a'pinion meshing with the rack; a combined braking and actuating member. said membercarrying thepin-ion at itscenter; a fixed braking surface; and means-interposed between} the steering-post and the combined braking and actuating member for moving the same and thereby actuating the-steering. member. I p

14. In combination with a steering-post;

a steering member; transmission means between said post and member, including a with said axis at an angle to the steeringpost; a fixed member having an internal surface; and a member fixed relatively to said part of the transmission means and being concentric with said part and formed of greater diameter than the same, the last.- mentioned member having a peripheral surface coacting with the first-mentioned surface to form a journal-bearing for said part of the transmission means when the post 'servesto operate the.steering member, and said last-mentioned member being movable to one side when force is applied, to the steering member. tending to rotate the post, and thereby causing said internal and peripheral surfaces tocoact as an automatic braketo minimize the rotation of the post by the steering member.

In combination with a steering-post; a bevelear carried thereby; a fixed member provided with an internal annular braking surface; a disk having a combined bearing and braking surface; a gear connected to said \disk adjacent to its periphery and meshing with the gear carried by the steering-post; a pinion mounted upon'the disk at its center; a steering member; a rockershaft or arm for said steering member and to which said member is rigidly secured: and a rack or segmental gear carried by said rocker-shaft and meshing with the pinion,

whereby any force applied to the steering member will throw the braking surface of the disk into-contact with the braking surface of the fixed member and transmission of motion to the steering-'post will be mini-- mized. x

16. In combination with a steering-post; a bevel-gear carried thereby; a fixed mem be! provided with an internal annular face:

a shell or disk having an external combined. bearing and braking face arranged in juxtaposition to said bearing face of the fixed member; a gear carried by said shell or disk at its periphery and meshing with the arried by the steering-post; a pinion extending outwardly'from the center of the diskga shaftor arm mounted in a bearing formed in the fixed member; a steering member secured to one end of the shaft; and a segmental gear or rack carried by the opposite end of the shaft. said rack meshing with the pinion;

-17. 'In combination with a steering-post a. steering member; a rack-and-pinion drive interposed between said post and member; an automatic brake actuated directly by force applied to said rack and pinion from the steeringn'iember; and adjustabie means for maintaining the rack and pinion l proper adjustment.-

18. In combination with a steering-post;

a steering member; arack-and-pinion drive interposed betW6Il .S2 L1Cl postand member,

the steering member being free to be moved in either direction by the stceringpost; an automatic brake interposed between the pinion and the steering-post and actuated directly by force applied to the jsteering member, whereby the rotation of the steeringpost by the steering member is minimized; and adjustable means for maintaining proper adjustment of said rack and pinion. I

. 19. In combination with a fixed member provided with an interna'lannular braking surface; acup-shaped shell or member provided with an external bearing face; a steer-I f described.

20. In combination with a relatively fixed member provided with an' annular bearingand braking surface; a rotatable member mounted therein a pinion carried by said rotatable member at its center and at a point remote from the periphery thereof; a rack meshing with the pinion; a steering mem-'; ber connected to and movable with the rack; and a steering device in operative connection with the rotatablemember adjacent to its periphery, whereby when force is ,-applied to the steering member the rotatable member will be thrown off center and into braking engagement with the fixedmen'iber.

21. A steering gear'comprising a steering post, a standard in which the steering post is journaled, a casing fixed to the standard and having a portion thereof encircling the lower end of the steering post, and another portion thereof de 'iending'from one side of the first-mentioned portion of the casing,

connected,power-transmitting members with- 1 in the casing, bne being revoluble with the steering post and the other being revoluble about an axis disposed at-an angle to the longitudinal axis of the steering post, a brake member within the casing revoluble with one of the powertransmitting members and formed of greater diameter than the same, and means fixed to-the casing for coaeting with the brake member, substantially as and for the purpose specified? 22. A steering gear comprising a steering post, a standard in which the steering post is jcurn aled, casing fixed to the standard and having a portion thereof encircling the lower end of the steering post, andanother portion thereof depending from one side of ing post, connected power-transmitting "memberswithin the casing, one being revoluble with the steering post and the other being revoliible about an axis disposed at an angle to said-longitudinal axis, a brake'member within the depending portion of the casing, said member being fixed to the power-transmitting member within such portion of the casing and formed of greater diameter than said power-transmitting member, and means fixed Within the depending portion of the casing for cooperating with the brake member, substantially as and for the purpose described. a

23. A steering gear comprising a hollow .casin havin )ortions thereof dis osed at an angle to each other, a steering post revov-luble in one of said portions of the casing, a

pinion in said portion of the casin revoluble with the steering post, a toothe powertransmitting member arranged in the other portion of the casing and cooperating with I the piniom a steering arm movable by the .toothed member, abra'ke member within the portion of the casing containing said toothed member, sa d brake member being fixed to said toothed member and formed of greater diameter than the same, and means fixed to the casing for cooperating with the brake member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

GEORGE G. PORTER. Witnesses: HORACE A. Donor, CHARLES H. RAEDER. 

